Machine for fabricatng radiator fins



ct. 4, 3949. 1', BT ECHQLS ET AL 2,433,694

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING RADIATOR FINS Filed Jan. 31, 1947 SheetsShe et l THOMAS 5. ECHOLS .50 05507 L4 HOWELL BY lNl/ENTOP A TTOFNE 1949. 1'. B. ECHOLS ET AL 2,433,594

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING RADIATOR FINS Filed Jan. 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 77104445 5. ECf/OLS P055371 HOWELL.

IN VEN TOR.

BY wfflrd/ ,4 rroP/vEr Patented Oct. 4, 1 949 ]-.UNlT E.D; STATES PATENT. OFFICE Thomas B. Echols, Fort Worth, and Robert Howell, Dallas, Tex.; said Howell assignor tov saidEchols Application anuary 31, 1947, Serial No. 725,638

' This invention'relates to machines for forming cooling fins for radiator cores employed in cooling systems of internal combustion engines, and the like, and it has for its principal object the provision of apparatus for cutting and forming strips of sheet metal, such as copper, or other suitable materials, and forming the same into narrow folds, whereb'y' to space the *water tubes and provide a series offins to radiate heat for dissipation by air contacting the fins which, by their association with the tubes, cools the water circulated through the cooling system.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a compact and inexpensive machine in which is embodied a simple arrangement of rotary dies for cutting and-forming air passages in the fin assemblies, capable of adjustment for impressions, while the material is fed therebetween.

-Yet another object-of the invention is manifest in'the provision of a novel folding orplaiting assembly capable of -forming the fins into narrow folds without an impression- 'die'and, consequently, without impairing or marring' the previously formed air passages inthe fins.

Broadly, the invention contemplates theprovision of a mechanism which is simple in design yet capable of automatically performing operations ordinarily requiring morecomplex and ex-' pensive mechanisms necessitating the services of an attendant. While the foregoing objects are Paramount,

other and lesser objects will 'becomemanifest as.

the *appendeddrawings wherein: V Figur'efl illustrates th e invention' in partial longitudinal section, taken on'lines l'l of-Figure 2, showing a roll of strip material, the asso-: ciation of the rotary dies, ,and folding 'mecha-' nism.

Figure '2 is a plan'view of the'invention illus the description proceeds, taken in connection with trating the driving arrangement,'the upper rotary die, and the path of the material through the mechanism. a e Figure 31s a cross-sectional view o'f'the driving mechanism, taken on lines 3 3 of Figure 2, il-' lustrating some of the adjustment features."

Figure 4 is' an elevational viewof an' adjustable sprocket by which the dies and folding'mechanism are synchronized-.5

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken tr'ans-' 3 Claims. (01. 15a 2) versely through the dual arrangement of rotary dies, guide plates and stripper members therefor, showing the construction of said dies.

' Figure 6 is a side elevational view of one of the rotary dies showing some ofthe forming units removed. v V

Figure 7 illustrates'in perspective, one of the cutting and forming units which form the' rotary dies. 1

Figure 8 fragmentarily shows aperspective illustration of the top of thestripping element.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the bottom of the stripping element.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the folding mechanism taken on lines Ill-l0 of Figure 11, showing a pair of the opposingly arranged helical rotors and the driving mechanism therefor. a

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view through i the folding mechanism, taken on lines llll of Figure 10, illustrating the dual arrangement of the helical rotors and the driving mechanism therefor.

Figure 12 fragmentarily shows a metal strip on which forming operations have been made by the invention, and

Figure 13 illustrates the material as the same appears from one edge, showing the shaped air passages and the folded or plaited form.

The invention comprises a platform Ill supported on parallel horizontal members II which may be attached to or formed with a plurality of legs I2, or other suitable devices, as illustrated particularly in Figure 1. Along one side of the platform 10, and also arranged upon the parallel members II, are a, pair of bearing standards l3 and which are spaced apart, in the manner shown inlFigure 2, and have their bases I5 and I6 secured to the horizontal members I! by bolts I1, or the like.

A pair of rotaryldieslii and I9, having their axes in vertical alignment, are operatively ar threaded shafts 23, shown in Figures 1 and 2, by"

whichthe die Hi can be adjusted with relation to, the die, l9 and'thus vary the pressures as de-:

sired. Locking members '24 are threaded upon the shafts 23 to secure the same against rotation when adjustment is made.

The dies l8 and I9, which will be described in detail presently, are opposingly rotated through meshed gears 25 and 26 arranged on the shafts 26 and 2|, the latter extending beyond the end of the shaft 29 and having a larger gear 23 rigidly mounted thereon which is meshed with a relatively small pinion 28 on a shaft 29- supported in bearings 36 and 3| in brackets 32 and 33 secured by bolts 95 to the platform Ill, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. V A V-pulley 35 is arranged on the shaft 29 which is driven by a V-belt 36 operating on the V-pulley 3'! of a motor 38, also supported on the platform ID by brackets 39, in the manner shown Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thep llley v 35 is mounted for free rotationon'the'shaft 25.

and rotates therewith when the clutch 35 is engaged, the latter being operable by ,a lever 35a.

The driven connection between the motor 38 and the pulley 35 is adjustable through a threaded rod 4|] operatively arrangedthrough depending base flanges 6| of the motor 38 and which slidably operate along parallel guide rods 42 arranged transversely of the motor 38 and secured at each end in'the brackets 39. By this arrangement the motor 38 can be moved to tighten or loosen the V-belt 36 as desired; The diameters ofthe pulleys 35 and 31, as well as the gear 2'! and pinion 2 8, determine the rotative speed of the dies l8 and I9. p

The dies -l8 .and- -|9, illustrated in detail in Figures an d =6, comprise a plurality of forming units 43 set in spaced circumferential grooves 44 formed therein and separated in longitudinal rows 45 by bars 46 arranged in grooves 4'! formed longitudinallyv of the cylindrical bodies 48 of the dies [8 and I9.

The bars 45 assume a radial arrangement in transversesection, as shown in Figure 5, and the spaces therebetween are tapered inwardly. The units 43 areaccordingly formed, as depicted in Figure '7, and have their operative jaces shaped as desired. It is expedient to arrange the units 4.3 in opposing staggered relationship, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and a spacing block 49 is inserted beside each in alternate arrangement which also has a cutting edge :1 along one of its upper edges whereby to provide a cut in the material. spaced from that made by the unit 43, as will presently become manifest Thedies vIii-and l9 beingarranged in theiroperativerelationship illustrated in Figure 5, a strip of material 50, preferably copper, is passed there between from a roll 5| pivotally supportedion a suitable shaft 52 journalled at each end in bearings 53 in brackets54 attached to the parallel members H of the main supporting structure, as in Figures 1 and 2. The strip of material 55, as it leaves the roll 5|, is passed between slide plates 55 andv 56 arranged horizontally and. having their operative faces in relatively close association.

.4 material as it is passed between the members 55 and 56.

The plates 55 and 56 extend to the dies l8 and I9 and each has its outer face b conformably curved transversely so as to project into the substantially triangular space between the dies l8 and I9 adjacent the meeting faces thereof, as in Figure 5. In this manner the material 5|] is guided directly between the dies l8 and I9, the latter impelling the strip of material 50 through the invention.

By reference to Figures 12 and 13 it will become apparent that the material- 50 is formed by the dies l8 and 9 with uniform arrangements of cuts and impressions B2. In performing these operations it is characteristic of the material 50 to cling to the dies 8 and I9 until detached therefrom by stripper elements 63 arranged in operative association with the dies opposite the plates '55 and'56. The members 63 may be identically formed an'd their opposing operative faces have, longitudinally arranged spaced grooves 64 The lower plate 56"is rigidly supported'on inbracket and having a suitable hand wheel or knob 6| thereon, as shown in Figures 1 and'Z. Thus, any desired tension can be applied to the which accommodate the formed impressions 62 in the material 50 while the ribs 65 between the grooves 64 engage the surfaces of the material 59 and i e. the'same toward the folding mechanism-hereafterdescribed. V

It is desirable thatthe opposing outer faces 66 of the stripper members-63, at their'receiving ends adjacent to-v the dies I3 and I9, have their surfaces curved inwardly Oi forming to the con:

tour of the dies i8 and -|9 =and project into the triangular space between these members opp site the guide plates 55 and56, asinFigure 5.

The surfaces 66 have parallel groovesifi'l directed longitudinally --of the stripper members 63 through which the units 43 operate, the arrange mentof spaced fingers 68 vat the ends of the members 63 extending between the dies and functioningto separate the material '59 therefrom as the latter is passed therebetween. The strippin elements 63 are illustrated in detail-in Figures 8 and9. r

The lowermost member .is supported upon integral lugs .69 formedon thestandards 3 and I4, similar to the lugs51 supporting the plates 55.

and 56, while the upne-rmember. 63 is secured to its mate by cap screws 10, or thelike, shown in Figure 2. r V V i The material 50, after ipassing between thedies l8 and i9, is moved longitudinallyialong between the stripper elements lli3from whichit enters the,

folding .or plaitin assembly whereby the strip of material 50 is formed into a. uniform arran ement of narrowfolds H; as apparent in Figures 12 and 13. The folding assembly is illustrated .in detail inFigures luandl 11 and comprises a gear housing 412 which ispreferahly formed from a solid piece of metaLIor othersuitable material, and has a horizontally positioned elongated opening 13 'therethrough ofisufiioient-depth to permit the passage of the folded material at there-.

through. I V

Above and below the openings 13 are grooves l4 arrangedlongitudinallyof the opening 73. and along one side of each groove a recess I5 is formed, as shown in 'Figures 1'0 and 11. .The

opening 13, the grooves 14 and the recesses IS-are closed on one end .by athlete lfil as. apparent in Figure 11,, which willbeghereafter described-in greater deltafli g A dual arrangement of folding elements, c

prising apluralityof hlically grooved rotors .11. and TB, is operatively supported the housing 12. The rotors. I1 and 18 have. t eir axes in lhori- 11, their spindles -19 extending'through the recesses I5 and the grooves 14 and journalled in the housing I2. Asmall gear or pinion 80 is formed on each of the spindles I3 and each series of the pinions 80 are meshed with a series of gears 8I -piv'otally' arranged'in-the grooves I4 in the sequences illustrated in Figure 11, above and below the opening 13. Y 7

' ;It will be observed that'the helical grooves 82 of the-upper series of rotors II have right-hand spirals, while the opposite series 18 have lefthand spirals and each series rotates in opposite directions, the rotors 'II rotatin clockwise, as viewed in the illustration shown in Figure 11, while the rotors I8 rotate anti-clockwise. This arrangement is accomplished by the opposite rotation of the gears 83 and 84 which are intermeshed, as shown in Figure 11. The gear 83 is meshed with the upper series of gears 8| while the gear 84 is meshed with the lower series, the closure plate I6 being formed to provide suitable openings 85 whereby the gears 8| can be operatively presented to the gears 83 and 84.

The gear 83 is mount-ed on a stub shaft 86 journalled in a bearing 81 and is driven by the gear 84 on a stub shaft 88 supported in a hearing 89 and on the end of said shaft a bevelled pinion 90 is arranged which is meshed with another bevelled pinion 9I on a stub shaft 92 whose bearing 93 is arranged in a right-angular portion 94 of a bracket 95 in which the bearings 81 and 89 are supported, as apparent in Figures 2 and 10.

The shaft 92 is driven by a sprocket 96 arranged thereon and a chain 91 which is operatively arranged about a sprocket 98 on the shaft 2| between the gears 26 and 21, previously described, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The folding assembly is driven, therefore, from the shaft 2] by which the dies [8 and I9 are operated, proper R. P. M. for each unit of the structure having been determined, and the dies can be synchronized with the folding assembly by an eccentrically mounted sprocket 99 supported on a bracket I rising from the platform I0, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The sprocket 99 is engaged by the chain 91, as exemplified 'in Figure 4, and is adjusted by rotating its eccentric pivot IOI by a lever I02, shown in Figure 2. By a slight shifting of the pivot IOI to change the relationship of the sprocket 99 with the chain 91 the operative synchrony of the dies with the folding assembly can be varied as desired.

The opposite ends of the spindles I9 are journalled in a closure I03 attached to the housing 12 and which embraces both arrangements of rotors I1 and I8, as illustrated in Figures 1 and III. The member I03 is formed with a narrow horizontally arranged passage I04 opening into the chamber I in which the rotors I1 and I8 operate and which in turn, opens into the opening I3 in the housing I2. The passage I04 is arranged in alignment with the operative grooved faces of the members 63 so that the material 50 is directed into the passage I04 as it leaves the stripper elements 83.

To accomplish the folding operation and the form illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 it is necessary to manually form the first fold II and then insert the same into the spiral grooves 92 of one of the sets of rotors 11 or I8 whereupon the folding operations will continue automati- 'cally,' the material 50bei'ng' urged toward and into the folding assembly by the dies I8 and I9. The folding or plaiting operation is continued by the continuous movement of the opposing arrangement of the spiral grooves 82. The material 50' is constantly fed into the roller assemblies TI and I8 by the dies I8 and I9 which cut into the material and have a positive grip thereon.

The formed material 50, upon passing through the opening 13, will move onto a chute I08 along which it travels to a suitable receptacle or to a bench for other operations as desired.

It is contemplated that an automatic switch control I01 be provided by which the current can be shut off and the motor stopped when the roll 5! is exhausted. The last of the material 50 will drop upon the control I01 and close a solenoid circuit (not shown) to actuate the motor circuit. This arrangement will permit the invention to be operated without a constant attendant without hazard.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of considerable changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for forming fins for radiators from a strip of metal, in combination with a base having a pair of coacting rotary dies supported thereon, a pair of guide plates for guiding said strip between said dies, removable means on said dies perforating said strip and forming impressions therein, a pair of stripper plates adjacent said die members opposite said guide plates stripping said strip from said dies, a folding mechanism supported on said base and comprising upper and lower sets of parallel rotary helically grooved elements having their axes aligned with said strip whereby to automatically form said strip into narrow folds as the same is advanced by said dies when the strip is manually projected into one of said sets of elements, means for rotating said dies and folding elements, and means for adjustably synchronizing said dies and said folding elements.

2. In a machine for forming fins for radiator cores, in combination with a supporting base and a pair of rotating die members capable of forming perforations and impressions in a strip of metal, a pair of guide plates spaced to accommodate said strip and direct the same between said die members, a pair of stripper plates arranged adjacent to said die members opposite said guide plates for stripping said material from said die members after the said material has passed therebetween, upper and lower series of helically grooved rotating folding elements having their axes aligned with said strip of material and engageable therewith, and means driving said assembly.

3. In a machine for forming radiator fins, in combination with a supporting base having means thereon for supporting a roll of strip material operatively arranged thereon, a pair of cooperating rotary dies mounted on said base and having elements thereon for perforating said material and forming impressions thereon, means guiding said material between said dies, stripping elements arranged opposi-te said guide means stripping said material from said dies, and guiding same in its passage therefrom, a plurality of vertically spaced arrangements of rotary folding elements, each having a helical groove formed "7 "8 therein and operatively engageable with said strip I as the sameis moved thereinto, the said fold- REFERENCES CITED ing elements having thei t x arranged longi- The following references are of record in the tudinally of said strip of material, means for file Of this p t adjusting said dies and synchronizing said fold- 15 UNITED STATES PATENTS ing elements therewith, and means driving said dies and said folding elements. Number Name be 1,000,144 Beebe Aug. "8,.1911 THOMAS B. ECHOLS. 1,379,005 Eligh May 24, .1921 ROBERT v. HOWELL. 10 84,600 Witte Febr19, 1924 1,704,321 Hazen Mai-. 5, 1929 2,071,584 Shippy um. Feb. 23, 1937 

